Total and beverage-specific alcohol intake and the risk of aggressive prostate cancer: a case–control study

Background:ethanol in alcoholic beverages is a known carcinogen, but its association with aggressive prostate cancer (apc) is uncertain. recent studies have shown a modest increase in risk of apc associated with heavy alcohol intake while association for beverage types remain inconsistent.methods:using a case–control design and self-administered questionnaire, we examined the association between apc (high grade and/or advanced stage) and frequency and quantity of alcohol intake 2 years prior to enrolment. furthermore, we delineated the relationships for beverage-specific intakes of beer, red wine, white wine and spirits.results:the study included 1282 apc cases and 951 controls. beer intake frequency of ⩾5 days per week was associated with increased risk compared with no beer intake (odds ratio=1.66, 95% confidence interval: 1.12–2.48) whereas wine was protective at all frequencies of consumption compared with those with no wine intake. for every 10 g per week ethanol intake from beer increase, the odds of advanced pc rose by 3% (or=1.03, 95% ci: 1.02–1.05). no such increased risk was observed for red or white wine while a marginal dose–response relationship was found for spirits (or=1.03, 95% ci: 0.99–1.07).conclusions:heavy beer and possibly spirits consumption is associated with increased risk while no dose–response relationship was found for red or white wine. wine drinkers at all frequencies have a decreased risk of apc compared with those who did not drink wine.